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Splenda, Sweet & Low, Equal...how to store?

18K views 49 replies 39 participants last post by  wellbuilt 
#1 ·
My husband and I are big tea drinkers and have to have our sugar replacements: Splenda, Equal, Sweet and Low.

If we bought the biggest stash they sell at Wal-Mart this weekend, what's the best way to store this? We want to buy a year supply's worth.
(These are the little individual packets).

Maybe breaking down the supply into 1-2 months supplies so we don't reopen a year's supply?

What do you suggest for us?

Thank you,

Kathy
 
#4 ·
This thread should bring out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha

I don't know enough about Splenda chemically to know how well it stores or whether it breaks down. My first instinct is to say store it in mylar with O2 absorbers since I don't know whether it oxidizes or not. But O2 absorbers put off moisture as they work. You can counteract that with dessicants, but if the dessicant is near the absorber, it will stop the absorber from working. As per Sorbent Systems, in a large bucket, you can put the dessicant on the bottom and the absorber on the top and it works ok, but in smaller bags I'm not sure what the solution would be.

You might email the company and ask about long term storage. If it's stable like sugar or salt, all it needs is dry storage.

I think you're right about storing a month or two worth per package.
 
#5 ·
This thread should being out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha

I don't know enough about Splenda chemically to know how well it stores or whether it breaks down. My first instinct is to say store it in mylar with O2 absorbers since I don't know whether it oxidizes or not. But O2 absorbers put off moisture as they work. You can counteract that with dessicants, but if the dessicant is near the absorber, it will stop the absorber from working. As per Sorbent Systems, in a large bucket, you can put the dessicant on the bottom and the absorber on the top and it works ok, but in smaller bags I'm not sure what the solution would be.

You might email the company and ask about long term storage. If it's stable like sugar or salt, all it needs is dry storage.

I think you're right about storing a month or two worth per package.
Mike, Thank you for trying to answer my question.

To the others: Sure, I know it's probably bad for me, but wasn't asking that question. After all, I want to keep me as happy as possible down to the end. I want to die with a smile on my face! :D: :thumb:

Anyway, I was thinking about counting out roughly a month's supply between the two of us, then sealing it?, then continuing on until at least a year's worth.
On a side note, I've always picked up extras here and there over time. I found some Equal packs stamped from Harrah's casino that I haven't been back to at least 3 years ago, and I used them yesterday. Tasted fine, and no different than the other packs. And it was in a secondary purse that I wanted to switch back to from the closet. Also 2 tootsie rolls in there. :cool:

Kathy
 
#7 ·
This thread should being out the trolls in droves, telling you not to use it! haha.
No kidding!

Anyway, I have used Sweet 'n Low packets that I know were a few years old and they were fine. I would say seal them up in a container, maybe add a silica package or two, and they would last years. Maybe decades. I really have never heard anything about them ever breaking down.
 
#13 ·
you treat the sugar substitutes like regular sugar or salt ...... keep it dry ..... add desiccant packs to the food grade bucket .....

you should buy items like this in bigger bulk ..... the individual packs have too much packaging involved ..... the paper, adhesive, ink all have chemicals involved ...... not a problem when used in a normal time frame & shelf stored ..... different story when LTS and contained air tite for long term ........
 
#15 ·
Stick to the saccharine: Sweet and Low

It's very shelf stable and has the fewer dangers than the other two. (Imagine, saccharine is now considered OK, after all that craziness years ago.)

A friend of mine only uses Sweet & Low (I tried to get her to switch to Stevia but she's so used to the S&L, nothing else tastes as good to her).

Anyway over 3 years ago, she found someone selling it in cartons of 12 boxes with 250 packets (3,000 packets) on eBay at a crazy price and got 4 cartons. She's using them today with no problem. Says she's got enough for the next 5 years. They are the usual store box, with the cellophane wrapping. She's done nothing special except keep them in a closet and they are fine.

So, if they come in the original box, you might want to put a few boxes in a plastic bag and seal with tape. If the packets are loose, use the mylar bags with silica dessicant packs to keep them dry. Moisture is the thing that will cause problems.
 
#16 ·
I also buy 1500 count box of Sweet'n Low at BJ's. I stay in the basement which is a dry environment. I use one or two a day and am not concerned. There are more chemicals in our foods than there were years ago. :rolleyes:

If you don't have a dry space to store it you may want to put packets in mason jars or zip type bags to prevent moisture affecting the sweetner.
 
#17 ·
Equal will break down from heat very quickly. I have left them in our fishing house and the granuals turn an off beigh color and lose the sweetness. Sweet n low will also but not as fast. I buy my splenda lose in mylar bags at the grocery store. When I open one I put it in a glass jar and use it from there. I have never tried to long term splenda so cant give terms on that.
 
#21 ·
This is an interesting thread. I use 2-3 S&L packets daily. I buy the 1,500 packet box (500 day's worth at 3 per day) from Sam's as some others do and just work my way through it. Now I want to store them (never even thought about it). So thanks to the OP for this thread and the info from all responders. Reminds me of when I first joined this board LOL.
 
#24 ·
It's funny, but I am as far from a food or nutrition conspiracy nut as there is, but I am highly suspicious of these artificial sweeteners. More often than not they seemed to be used by people with weight problems and it does not help them keep their weight in check. Now that may just be coincidence and they are harmless.

I do not use them, just like I would not use that fat replacement stuff (olestra?) either. Sugar has centuries of being used and mankind knowing the effects. These modern synthetic sweet chemicals are not as vetted.
 
#25 ·
One of the problem with products that use aspartame, it is a proven appetite stimulant.
Once you know that, the 300lb chick ordering 2 double quarter pounders 3 super size fries and "A medium diet coke because I'm on a diet." makes sense.

A lot of people would lose weight naturally if they would trade in their liquid sugars or appetite stimulants for water.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I've been using S&L in my iced tea for years and years. I don't mind the calories from sugar, but I don't like that sugar will never dissolve completely in iced tea like S&L does. I can't stand iced tea with the sugar sitting at the bottom of the glass! :headshake: Sugar in iced tea isn't sweet enough at the top of the glass, and way too sweet at the bottom!! :(

I just use regular sugar in my hot tea though because sugar will dissolve in hot drinks.
 
#30 ·
Put the sugar in the tea while its hot then stick in fridge to cool. My Grandmother always drank sweet tea being from OK. She would boil the water, add tea bags and sugar then take out the tea bags add more water and put in the fridge.

Personally I love iced tea but not sweet Iced Tea. I drink the unsweetened.
 
#27 ·
I use Splenda like it is going out of style and have plenty of it stored. I have it stored in small mylar bags with O2 absorbers. The biggest enemy is moisture - if it starts to breakdown in humid conditions, it begins to develop a formaldehyde taste. I've got several thousand packs stored and have opened some that I put up 30 months ago (I tried some at 6, 12, 18 and 24 mos as well) to try them out - they are great and no loss of quality was noticeable. Hope this helps
 
#28 ·
I suggest the very thing you are looking for.

Alternative sugars. They store the same as regular sugars, however my direction isn't chemically altered, bio engineered, nor Genetically modified. I try to find an actual non Corporate made solution, low on costs, with out the side effects.

First, you need to know what Sweetners are... this isn't simple because Corporations with long arms, obviously promote self interest over answers. If you ask any one, they are the best, the others aren't healthy..

Aspartame,Sucralose, Saccharin, Stevia, Truvia (tastes like crap, but probably a top contenders for Diabetes sweeteners), Xylitol (sister to Lloth the Forgotten Realms Spider queen, D&D Second Edition..) ,Sorbitol, Acesulfame potassium, Cyclamate, Corn syrup (GMO BS).

Holy Cow do you have a lot to choose from COMMERCIALLY.

Or.... you could make your own sweetners. You could use honey which lasts forever. You could grow organic sugar beats and leech the sugars while turning the pulp into Chicken feed. (My personal favorite)

If you want real advice on sugars, then I am glad to help. Maybe I can even find a non Cancerous one that fits your lifestyle? ;)
 
#29 ·
I had a friend of mine whose soon to be death is possibly related to using "imitation sugars" from diet soda's to sweet n' low, There is a case pending. I'll stay away from the stuff no thank you. I've learned to bake without sugar in case my supply runs out. Besides if I run out of toothepaste I won't want to consume sugar anyway.
 
#31 ·
Not trying to be a troll, but wanted to issue a warning. If you start having unexplained symptoms (headaches, tingly fingers/toes, fatigue, weight issues), try getting rid of the artificial sweeteners. I spent the better part of a year trying to find the source of debilitating headaches. CT scan, MRI, neurologist, eye doctor.... turns out it was artificial sweeteners. And don't just give them up for a few days. It takes WEEKS to get this crap out of your system. I think I read that it can take up to 2 months to flush it from your system. I felt the results in about 3-4 weeks. And I feel better in ways I didn't even realize were related (like my feet falling asleep all the time).

And artificial sweeteners are everywhere. They're in some cereals, yogurts, weight control oatmeal, "no sugar added" canned fruit, some breads like some brands of thin buns, a few flavors of Flat Outs, almost all chewing gum, etc.

Maybe I just have a weird allergy. So if you can tolerate the stuff, enjoy it! But if you have any unexplained symptoms, please consider that these may be causing it.

Anyway, to answer your question to the best of my ability. Aspartame breaks down under heat. The aspartame people claim that it just becomes less sweet. Others claim it breaks down into dangerous chemicals. No one can agree at what temperature this happens. To be safe, if you don't care which you store, I'd store Splenda or something else a little more stable.
 
#32 ·
That Stuff Will Kill You Dead Over Time

Splenda, Sweet And Low and Equal are toxic over time. Best not to use them. You can use your Splenda to kill fire ants; it works just fine for that.

If you want to store a sugar substitute, use Xylitol Sweetener instead. This stuff works for you instead of against you. Or just use sugar. HB of CJ (old coot)
 
#35 ·
:eek: I can't stand the chemical taste from sweet n low or splenda or equal, that stuff is just aweful tasting, drink tea without sweetener!

To answer your question I bet that stuff is stable enough to sit on your shelf for a year without any special action needed. Does it even spoil? I'd imagine just keep it dry and you'd be fine.
 
#36 ·
I only use real Stevia (the chopped green leaves), Agave nectar, and honey. I go easy on the nectar and honey tho. Stevia is the only natural non-sugar sweetener there is on earth that I know of. Once you get used to it it is really good. There are also liquid extracts available, but they are really strong.
 
#37 ·
Lots of people with "helpful" info. How many of you folks take a drink of alcohol, drink caffeine in any form, including coffee, or have a cigarette? Just answer a simple question.

The packaging (boxes) takes up too much space in my opinion, so I open all the boxes and dump the packages in other containers, in my case, old coffee cans. I pack those packets in there really tight. I then rotate the coffee cans. I've had Equal that was really really old (like 10 years old) kind of clump up on me, but no other problems.
 
#38 ·
I realize this is kind of an old thread, (and I too think aspertame isn't good for u, but that's not why we're here :D ) but another reason to store sugar instead of artificial sweeteners (AS) is the practicality side of it:

Sugar is used to cure meats, so it will be good for trading as well as personal use.

Some recipes will not work with AS as it lacks the bulk and chemical reaction of sugar.
 
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